Nebraska

Nebraska National Guard and Tanzania formalize State Partnership

Published

3 weeks ago

March 31, 2026

Nebraska National Guard and Tanzania formalize State Partnership

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U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, left, the Nebraska Adjutant General, and General Jacob John Mkunda, Chief of Defence Forces for the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces, sign a formal letter of intent in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, March 12, 2026. The agreement officially links the Nebraska National Guard and Tanzania through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program.
(Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Gauret Stearns)

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Strategic Alliance: Nebraska National Guard and Tanzania Formalize State Partnership — 2 / 5

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Senior military and civilian leaders from the United States and Tanzania pose for a group photo following a State Partnership Program signing ceremony in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, March 12, 2026. The partnership aims to strengthen security cooperation and bilateral ties between the two nations.
(Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Gauret Stearns)

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DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – In a move that significantly expands U.S. security cooperation in East Africa, military leaders from the Nebraska National Guard and the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces officially formalized their partnership on March 12.

The historic ceremony, held in Dar Es Salaam, centered on the signing of a formal letter of intent by General Jacob John Mkunda, Chief of Defence Forces for the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces and Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, the adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard. The agreement marks Tanzania’s official entry into the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, a relationship that has been developing since early 2024.

The proceedings were overseen by several high-ranking officials, including Tanzania Minister of Defence Rhimo Nyansaho, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Andrew Lentz and senior military and civilian leaders from both nations.

“It is a great privilege welcoming you [the U.S. delegation] here,” said Nyansaho, who holds a doctorate in business economics. “This ceremony represents a significant milestone in the continuing relationship between our two countries and militaries.”

Lentz emphasized that the day represented more than a bureaucratic milestone.

“Today, we don’t just sign a document – we strengthen a friendship and forge a partnership that will benefit our nations for years to come,” Lentz said. “The fact that we are here today, that we signed the agreement, that the minister and generals are present among these many witnesses, is proof that we have succeeded. We are now ready to move forward together, making our countries safer, stronger and more prosperous.”

Lentz said that, while security is the primary focus, the “Nebraska connection” offers unique opportunities for collaboration with the state’s leading institutions in agriculture, health research and higher education.

The formal signing is the culmination of years of groundwork, including the Justified Accord exercises of 2025 and 2026, and a senior-level visit to Nebraska by Tanzanian officials in May 2025.

For Strong, the partnership is already bearing fruit. Prior to the ceremony, Strong visited various sites where Nebraska and Tanzanian personnel already were working in tandem.

“It is my firm belief that all successful partnerships must be based upon shared respect, shared commitments and shared friendship,” Strong said. “I have seen this firsthand over the past two days as I’ve visited Lugalo Military Hospital and seen our doctors working side by side to treat Tanzanian citizens, and as I traveled to Msata Military Training Base, where our soldiers are sharing best practices to hone tactical skills.”

Strong pointed out that both Nebraska and Tanzania face similar hurdles in emergency management, disaster response, military preparedness, modernization, public health and regional security.

“Through these efforts, we will continue to be stronger together,” Strong added, using the Swahili phrase: “Nguvu kwa pamoja.”

The State Partnership Program is a Department of Defense initiative that has been building international relations for more than 30 years. Managed by the National Guard Bureau and guided by State Department foreign policy, the program includes 107 partnerships with 116 nations.

Tanzania is now the third official partner for the Nebraska National Guard, which has participated in the State Partnership Program since its earliest days, when it was selected, along with the Texas National Guard, to develop a partnership with the Czech Republic in 1993.

Nebraska

Nebraska baseball falls to 16th-ranked Kansas

Published

8 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska baseball falls to 16th-ranked Kansas

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska baseball team lost to Kansas 9-7 on Tuesday in front of a record crowd at Hoglund Park. The Huskers took an early lead on an RBI single by National Freshman of the Week Drew Grego. After giving up three unanswered runs, Nebraska rallied to go back in front on a 3rd-inning single by Will Jesske. Both Grego and Jesske finished with two hits in the game.

Kansas, however, took control in the middle innings. The Jayhawks got home runs from Tyson Owens and Josh Dykoff in the sixth frame. Both round-trippers came off NU relief pitcher Ty Horn. Kansas added insurance in the 7th inning before a late rally by the Huskers.

Nebraska trimmed a five-run deficit to two, but couldn’t complete the comeback on the road.

The Huskers’ loss is their second to the Jayhawks this season. Nebraska’s record drops to 31-10 overall.

Will Bolt’s team returns to action on Friday at Illinois. Game one is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Champaign.

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Nebraska

Nebraska jumps up to No. 2 in college softball Power 10 rankings

Published

20 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

Softball

April 21, 2026

Nebraska jumps up to No. 2 in college softball Power 10 rankings

April 21, 2026

Check out Michella Chester’s updated college softball Power 10 rankings for the week of April 21, which sees Nebraska rise to No. 2 behind an 11-game win streak.

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Nebraska

Mental health by the numbers in Nebraska

Published

1 day ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

Mental health by the numbers in Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A deeper look tonight as First Alert 6 continues to dig deeper into the state of mental health care in Nebraska and possible solutions, ever since last week’s two instances involving law enforcement.

A Douglas County sheriff’s deputy was shot responding to a domestic call. Investigators said the suspect, Brian Huggins, had a history of behavioral health issues. Huggins died by suicide.

And then Noemi Guzman, who police say kidnapped a 3-year-old from inside an Omaha Walmart and cut him in the arm and face with a stolen kitchen knife. Omaha police officers shot and killed her before she could strike again.

Guzman had been on a court-ordered mental health treatment plan since last summer for her schizophrenia. According to court records, psychiatrists determined she could live in the community. Remember, this was after she was arrested for setting her father’s house on fire and threatening a priest with a knife.

Monitoring system

We wanted to know who is part of the system monitoring those who may not be following their mental health treatment plan and are a risk to others or themselves. When that happens, the Board of Mental Health will often notify the local sheriff so a warrant can be issued and deputies can track the individual down.

Here are the numbers since 2023:

In 2023, 842 warrants were issued for those not following their treatment plans according to the Board of Mental Health. In 2024, 756. In 2025, 690. So far in 2026, 190.

But out of these 2,500 warrants, 85% of them didn’t have a second warrant, meaning deputies picked them up, got them back into treatment and the individuals continued to thrive after the one hiccup.

But in 15% of these cases, the individuals messed up again and had another warrant issued by the Board of Mental Health. Twenty-five individuals had five or more issued in Douglas County.

Sheriff Hanson said there has to be a better way, a more team approach for this.

One model to explore is the way Nebraska’s problem-solving courts work like drug court and veterans’ treatment court where experts from a variety of stakeholders help individuals who are on the fringes to do everything to make them productive citizens.

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